GRACE-FO | Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment Follow-On

GRACE‑FO is a satellite mission consisting of two satellites flying approximately 220 km apart in a near‑polar orbit at around 490 km altitude. It continuously measures the distance between the satellites using microwave ranging, with accelerometers correcting for non‑gravitational forces. The mission also features a Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI) to achieve higher precision in inter‑satellite distance measurements. GRACE‑FO monitors time‑varying changes in Earth’s gravity field, enabling detection of mass redistribution such as groundwater depletion, ice sheet melting, and ocean mass variations.

More Info: https://geodesy.science/item/satellite-gravimetry/